Roxana trustee, mayor disagree on demolition funding

ROXANA — A Roxana Village Trustee and the Village Mayor are at odds over the use of taxpayer money on a derelict structure’s demolition.

According to Village Trustee Patricia Ford, Roxana Mayor Paul Oller is attempting to use village funds to profit from the demolition of a derelict home he purchased on Jan. 21, 2014.

The property was destroyed in a fire on Nov. 30, 2013. The mayor purchased the property for $3,000 knowing that it was derelict. He now wants to use village funds to demolish the property, according to Ford.

“Now he’s wanting the village or city to take it down,” Ford said. “He knew that it had caught fire and was a dangerous and derelict property when he bought it.”

The cost of the demolition was estimated at $3,500 by Kamadulski Excavation and Grading of Granite City. According to Ford, an estimator from the company was on the site on Jan. 25, only four days after Mayor Oller purchased it.

“Less than a week after purchasing it, he has someone taking bids on it,” alleges Ford.

The issue was brought to discussion at the village board meeting on Feb. 3 Oller decided to table the issue until the next meeting. According to Ford, he did so due to members of the press being in attendance. According to Mayor Oller, he did it to discuss safety and litigation issues with the village attorney, Phil Lading. Lading was concerned about the possibility of asbestos in the building.

“If asbestos gets into the air, that’s a big lawsuit on our hands,” said Oller.

Oller openly admits that he wants to use village funds to demolish his property. He says there is nothing wrong with using the funds. According to Oller, Roxana has always done such things for their residents.

“If someone’s doing a home remodel, we come by and give them a dumpster,” Oller said. “The Village of Roxana in the past has always catered to their residents. Whether it’s home demolition, tree removal, or whatever. It has always catered to its residents.”

Ford, however, said that Oller’s actions are only going to bring personal profits. She said that his actions violate the Illinois Compliance Statute, which goes through the Attorney General of the State of Illinois. The statute sets standards for municipalities within the state. Ford said that in order for a house to be demolished on tax payers’ dollars, a lean must first be placed against them to ensure that the city gets their money back.

Oller disagrees and says that the village has done such demolitions in the past.

“That’s not the way Roxana works,” said Oller. “I’m not saying that it’s wrong or right, I’m just doing what’s best for the City of Roxana.”

Oller refutes Ford’s claim that he is abusing his position as mayor. He assured that he asks the snowplows to plow his street last in order to dispel any notions of favoritism. He said that the property in question is an eyesore and sees himself as a resident of Roxana. He claimed that any resident of Roxana would be able to use this service.

Ford, however, said the opposite. She cited an example of Roxana Fire Chief Daniel Trask purchasing a derelict property. He asked the village for assistance in the demolition and he was denied. She added that when properties had been demolished by the city for free, they had been eyesores for five or six years.

“It’s not right for tax payers to pay for it to take it down,” she said.

She said that the only person who will benefit from the demolition will be Oller.

“It just increases his property value,” she said. “The lot without the structure could probably be sold for $10,000. If he wanted to add onto his house, he easily could as well.

Oller assured that every trustee with the exception of Ford was willing to vote yes at the meeting. The issue, however, has been tabled until the next meeting which will be on Feb. 17, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held at the village hall at 400 S Central Street in Roxana.